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 On the 31st March over fifty representatives of community woodland groups, woodland owners, the Forestry Commission, the Woodland Trust, woodworkers, bushcraft experts, Forest School leaders, farmers and local residents met to discuss the role of Welsh woodlands in a localised economy.
Historically woodlands have played a vital role in most areas of our culture: shelter, transport, fuel, tools and food. Modern society has become increasingly reliant on petrochemical products such as plastic and dependent on fossil fuels to transport cheap goods globally. This has reduced the need for local skilled workers to make woodland products. However, the cost of oil has risen sevenfold in the last six years and domestic energy bills are expected to soar (Guardian, 2008). These current economic trends are pointing towards an urgent need to focus on local sustainability and our woodlands will play an important role in this.
It is essential that the woodland skills and crafts necessary to support local communities are not lost. Across Wales there are many individuals and groups who are keeping these skills alive by working their local woods, involving the community and providing training, apprenticeships and volunteering opportunities. To find out more about some of your local groups and initiatives go to our Community Initiatives and Local Groups page.
 Three woodland projects from South Wales gave presentations at the event: Coppicewood College, Coed Marros and Growing Heart Coop. Willow and Kate of Growing Heart Co-op, hosting the event, explained how their woodland project aims to prepare for a time after peak oil (when supply of oil has peaked becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to extract). They believe that building strong resilient local communities based on use of local resources will help us to provide for our needs in the face of global shortages of fuel and other resources. Nick Barnes of Coppicewood College spoke of their work to pass on the traditional craft of coppicing. Caz Ward spoke of the work being done at Coed Marros and of a Permaculture approach to woodland management. Caz has set up a Forest School on the site providing a valuable opportunity for children to become involved in the project.
“There is huge value in showcasing different people's projects in this way, as it can give the rest of us good ideas, and it's an opportunity to ask really relevant questions. For me hearing in detail about other people's work is one of the best things about meeting up in this way,” said Chloe Griffiths of Greener Wales.
One of the outcomes of this networking day was to kick start and promote informal networking and skills share for people involved in woodland groups and projects in South West Wales. From knowing when your neighbour has excess timber for sale, to borrowing a tractor or picking an experts brain for advice on coppicing your hazel there is always something to be gained from closer links with others. If you would like to get involved in this network then contact us.
So next time you need a chair, gate posts or bean poles think first of your local green woodworker and support your local economy.
 Presentations:
Katy Harris - Coed Lleol Introduction - download here (10,817KB)
Mike Pitcher - FC Wales perspective - download here (129KB)
Paul Bunton - What can CWN offer groups in Wales - download here (9,173KB)
Further reading
Coed Marros www.coedmarros.com
Coppicewood College www.coppicewoodcollege.co.uk
Domestic energy bills expected to soar as cost of oil keeps increasing. Ashley Seager. Guardian p21 Mon June 9 2008
ForestHarvest : non-timber forest products in Scotland
http://www.forestharvest.org.uk/home.htm
Forest Schools www.forestschools.com
Growing Heart Cooperative www.growingheart.co.uk
Permaculture www.permaculture.org.uk
Transition Towns www.transitiontowns.org
Ffynone woodlands (above) managed by
the Growing Heart Co-op with Cyd Coed funding
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